Now there are practically no people over 25 years old who do not experience problems with the spine. One of the most common pathologies is damage to the vertebrae of the neck, which, if untreated, inevitably progresses and causes the patient more and more discomfort.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is degenerative-dystrophic changes in the joints and intervertebral discs.
With the progression of cervical osteochondrosis, the following symptoms begin to appear:
decreased visual acuity and hearing;
numbness of the tongue;
with a sharp turn of the neck, it darkens in the eyes, dizzy;
in the back of the head, a throbbing pain is felt, which can radiate to the temples and crown;
pain in the cervical spine and shoulders, disturbing the patient even during sleep and aggravated by movement or exertion;
neck stiff, especially in the morning;
pressure in the sternum;
shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air.
Due to the fact that the spinal cord does not receive enough nutrients, the range of motion, as well as the sensitivity of the upper and lower extremities, decreases markedly.
Causes of cervical osteochondrosis
The predisposition to osteochondrosis of the neck is inherited. In addition, common causes of the development of pathology are:
unbalanced diet;
scoliosis;
flat feet;
VSD;
stress;
spinal injuries and bruises;
excessive physical activity;
rheumatism;
sedentary lifestyle;
overweight.
Reference! The main reason for the development of osteochondrosis is a violation of mineral metabolism, which may be associated with a calcium deficiency or hormonal disruption. Women often face this pathology during pregnancy and menopause.
Diagnostics
To determine the degree of degenerative changes in the spine, the following diagnostic methods are used:
Doppler ultrasound of the carotid and vertebral arteries. Allows you to detect spasmodic vessels, as well as a violation of the blood supply to the brain and spinal cord.
Audiography to test the functioning of the hearing organs.
Ultrasound.
CT and MRI of the head and cervical spine. It is carried out with the aim of assessing the area of the lesion, checking the position of the intervertebral discs, detecting compression of the spinal cord and blood vessels.
Blood test.
X-ray at an early stage of pathology.
Electroneuromyography showing the presence of inflammation, pinching and nerve damage.
Duplex scanning of the vessels of the head.
Reference! All these procedures are most conveniently done in one place, for example, in a treatment and rehabilitation center, where diagnostics are carried out using modern equipment.
Which doctor treats
If symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis occur, you cannot immediately start treatment. First of all, you should make an appointment with a neurologist. The specialist will conduct an examination and then refer the patient to the necessary studies.
Important! Carrying out manual therapy and other types of treatment without preliminary diagnosis threatens with injuries and aggravation of existing problems.
Treatment methods
Once the diagnosis is made, the patient can proceed to treatment. Leading specialists work in treatment and rehabilitation centers, so the likelihood of complications is minimal.
The main method of treating osteochondrosis of the neck is manual therapy. The specialist makes a massage that relaxes the neck and shoulders, returns the vertebrae and joints to their natural position, and works to normalize lymph flow and blood circulation.
Manual therapy is often combined with therapeutic exercises to tone up the neck muscles. In addition, drug treatment and physiotherapy are used to get rid of pathology.
results
As a result of the therapy, the nerve endings are freed from pinching, the spinal column is stabilized, and the pain disappears or diminishes. A chiropractor is able to straighten the vertebrae and increase the distance between damaged discs, thereby eliminating friction.
Important! Osteochondrosis of 2 and 3 degrees cannot be completely cured. But therapy and rehabilitation will allow the patient to restore the impaired functions of the spine as much as possible.
Rehabilitation and Lifestyle Recovery
In the treatment and rehabilitation centers, not only the diagnosis and treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out, but also rehabilitation measures. The patient leaves the center healthy and ready to return to the usual way of life as soon as possible.
Rehabilitation is aimed not only at restoring the functioning of the spinal column, but also at preventing damage to healthy tissues. The program is drawn up taking into account the severity of the pathology and the presence of complications. Physiotherapy procedures, massage, exercise therapy, mud applications have proven themselves well. If the patient still has symptoms of pathology, he is prescribed medication blockade.
Lifestyle with cervical osteochondrosis
To avoid a relapse of the disease, the following recommendations must be followed:
change the position of the body at least every half hour;
do not lift a load weighing more than 5 kg;
walking more, doing physical therapy, swimming, Pilates;
it is preferable to use not a bag, but a backpack;
when sedentary, take ten-minute breaks every hour.
Important! The position of the human body during sleep is of great importance. You need to sleep on your back, on an orthopedic mattress of medium firmness and an orthopedic pillow. In this case, the head and neck should lie on the pillow, and the shoulders should be on the mattress.
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is most effective at an early stage, so you should not postpone a visit to a neurologist. But it is possible to stop the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life regardless of the degree of damage to the joints and intervertebral discs. For this, it is important not to waste time and follow the recommendations of a specialist.